Methods and apparatus for reducing sand erosion in golf course bunkers

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to improved golf course bunker drainage systems and methods for reducing sand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking into sloped zones of a golf course bunker. Such bunkers have a layer of sand disposed atop a substrate layer, and include an upper lip, at least one water fall line and a bunker bottom. Formed within the substrate layer of the golf course bunker are an upper drain trough, at least one intermediate trough, and a bottom drain trough. Disposed respectively therein are respective upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes, with each containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receiving the impinging water disposed within the troughs. A drain pipe connector operatively interconnects to each of the drain pipes, and a vacuum source is operatively connected to one of said respective drainage pipes to create a pressure differential across the sand layer to drain excess moisture therefrom, and thereby to reduce substantially sand erosion within the bunker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to apparatus for treating thesand in a golf course bunker, and more particularly to improve methodsand apparatus for ameliorating sand erosion by reducing the watercontent of the sand particularly within sloped zones of a golf coursebunker.

Golf course sand bunkers may be built in a wide variety of sizes,shapes, and contours. Such golf course bunkers may be constructed toinclude sections having a relatively steep surface and comprising asloped zone or area included within portions of the sand contourthereof. In such sand bunkers, keeping the sand raked smoothly, andespecially upon the sloped contours may be a daily task of golf courseground-maintenance crews. Such steep sand slopes, however, tend to be atleast somewhat subject to crumbling and/or displacement during orshortly after heavy rain storms. At these and other times, maintenancecrews may be tasked with replacing sand on the slopes, rather than thelesser duty of merely raking the sand surface.

The mechanisms that cause sand displacement include, inter alia,crumbling, creeping and fluidized flow. Together these phenomena of sanddisplacement may be collectively or individually referred to in thetrade as “washout.” Each of these mechanisms is created by the presenceof saturated sand regions that cannot support the weight and motion ofinfiltrated water. Washout can start at the upper slopes and proceeddown the face of the contour, or it can start at the bottom when thesand becomes saturated with water and becomes a fluidized puddle thatcannot support adjacent layers above.

Repairing a washed-out region can be time-consuming and costly. Indeed,a large bunker typically may require a crew of two to three to shoveland rake for one-to-two hours in order to restore the sand contour.Inasmuch as a single golf course may contain as many as fifty (50) ormore sand bunkers, and heavy washout rain can occur 15-20 times a yearin many regions of the country, bunker repair is a considerablegolf-course maintenance expense that can easily exceed $50,000 annually(3 men×2 hrs×$9/hr×20 rain events/year×50 bunkers=$54,000+cost of dirtysand replacement). Additionally, there is frequently a general loss ofrevenue (due to golfers' reluctance to play washed-out bunkers), asgolfers may tend under these negative circumstances to cancel tee times.

Another consequence of bunker washout may further include the delay ofplay that can result when rain storms occur during major golftournaments. Typically, if more than several bunkers have been affected,those bunkers must be repaired before play can resume, potentiallyfurther resulting in the loss of valuable broadcast time and/or causinga major inconvenience to attending patrons.

Given the prevalence of the washout phenomenon, and the resultingsubstantial costs associated with rebuilding/repairing a bunker,golf-course architects may be unduly constrained in their designparameters related to the structure of bunkers, which may further andpreemptively negatively impact the challenge and character of the courselayout. Accordingly, the availability of an improved sand bunkermaintenance system would enable architects to enjoy greater freedom intheir golf course designs through the utilization of more diverse andchallenging sand bunkers. Moreover, such an improved sand bunkermaintenance system would reduce the maintenance costs that wouldotherwise be incurred if sand bunker hazards were to be replaced in golfcourse designs with grass bunkers having undulating turf contours thatthus must be trimmed by the labor intensive method of hand mowing.

The relevant prior art may be described, as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 1,151,608, entitled “Method of Resecuring Slipped Slopesof Cuts and Dams,” is directed to a method of securing slipped slopes ofcuts and dams, and consists of temporarily removing the soil down to theslipping area and embedding fascines into the slipping area. Fascinesare defined as bundles of sticks or wood bound together and used forsuch purposes as filling ditches and making revetments for riverbanks.The fascines are embedded into the slipping area and are thereaftercovered with soil, thereby restoring the slope.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,866,826, entitled “Hill Draining System,” is directed toa hill draining system that utilizes a trench of substantial depthextending from an upper portion of a hill downwardly and having a groovein the bottom thereof with a porous drainage pipe laid in the groove andextending downward to a point of discharge. Porous drainage material isdisposed in the trench.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,348, entitled “Subsurface Irrigation and DrainageSystem,” is directed to a surface irrigation and drainage system forsupplying and extracting water and similar liquids through a subsurfaceconduit network automatically responsive to the ground water tableoccurring above or below a predetermined subsurface reference level. Aplurality of elongated subsurface perforated conduit lines are locatedthroughout the field at a uniform depth below ground along one or moreground elevation contour lines for the outflow or inflow of waterthrough the conduit line perforations when the ground water isrespectively below and above the predetermined subsurface referencelevel.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,376, entitled “Hillslope Landslide Stability Drain,”is directed to a hill slope landslide stability drain. The systemincludes a porous walled conduit positioned within the hillsidesubstantially parallel the face of the hillside. This system may alsoinclude a saddle section or chamber that essentially surrounds theconduit and provides a region of increased permeability contiguous tothe conduit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,080 entitled “Process for the Construction of aDrain System,” is directed to a process for the construction of a drainsystem that includes a plurality of vertical shafts which are incommunication with a horizontal hole as drilled for use as a catchmentbody.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,345 entitled “System for Construction of Golf CourseSand Bunkers,” is directed to a system for constructing golf course sandbunkers having a drainage ditch in the floor which also utilizes aplastic liner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,546 entitled “Soil Stabilization Composition andMethod,” relates to a soil stabilization composition and method for usein golf course bunkers. The invention employs the use of a stableresilient surface layer which comprises a particular aggregate havingparticles of a particular size and including fiber strands and aselected amount of water-absorbent, water-activated adhesive particleshaving a specified swell volume when absorbing water. When subjected toa sufficient amount of water, the water-absorbent particles swell andbind the aggregate and fiber strands forming a high shear strengthflexible resilient layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,856 entitled “Subsurface Fluid Drainage and StorageSystem,” relates to the use of a drain core structure to collect anddrain water in a system which promotes efficient drainage of water suchas in a football field.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,718 entitled “Subsurface Fluid Drainage and StorageSystems,” is related to a similar structure described above for '856patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,795, entitled “System for Stabilization of SandyShores,” is directed to a system for the stabilization of sandy shoressuch as beaches, and selectively adds moisture as needed to the sand inorder to stabilize the shore.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,778, entitled “System and Method for PreventingBluff Erosion,” is directed to a system and method for preventing blufferosion and involves using a horizontal wick drain positioned along thelength of a bluff top to prevent erosion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,335, entitled “Erosion Control Rolls,” is directedto an erosion control roll which includes an elongated core member andwhich functions to control sedimentation and debris flow by use of afilter member and a flow member.

U.S. Published application No. 2003/0082004, entitled “Bunker DrainSystem,” and U.S. Published application No. 2003/0118403, entitled“Drainage System for Sports Fields,” are directed to bunker drainagesystems for the bottom of a bunker utilizing a perforated-typecollection system and a receptacle having a cover member.

U.S. Published application No. 2003/0198514, entitled “Riser forSubsurface Drainage Pipe,” is directed to a riser for a subsurfacedrainage pipe in a bunker. More specifically a pull up riser isdisclosed with at least one drainage port near its upper end forattachment to a subsurface drainage system to facilitate drainage in lowareas when submerged with water.

Although the above prior art may be construed to have taught in partsome concepts of seeking to control earth erosion from banks, hills,and/or perhaps golf course hazards, the improved benefits of carryingout such substantial reduction in erosion of golf course bunker slopedareas through vacuum-assisted differential pressure means, asaccomplished by the unique structure and methods of the presentinvention, are not taught or suggested by such prior art references.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described and claimed herein provides in preferredembodiments structure and methods for removing material and selectedamounts of water from the sand comprising and disposed upon therelatively steep slopes in sand bunkers, and doing so at such selectedrates as to materially reduce the formation of the sand fluidizationphenomenon and thereby bunker washout during heavy rainstorms and/orduring irrigation cycles. As may be come more apparent to those skilledin the art upon review of the following drawing, detailed description ofpreferred and other embodiments, and the appended patent claims, certainof the embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present inventionmay consist of one or more of the following features, whetherindividually or in combination:

1. One or more troughs are dug within the substrate forming the steepcontour slope such that the trough longitudinal dimension is disposedgenerally perpendicular to the water fall line at such portion of thecontour.

2. Drainage pipes containing perforations, apertures or other suitableopenings are disposed within the troughs, and may be covered with gravelthereby to fill the troughs back to the contour of the bunker substratein some embodiments.

3. Additional troughs, drainage pipe and gravel are set forth atdispositions described herein and at several levels of contour includingthe bottom or lowest contour region of the golf course bunker.

4. Discharge pipe or conduit is interconnected to the drainage pipetogether to form a continuous drainage network leading to one or moreoutfalls where water can be permanently discharged from the bunker.

5. A vacuum source, such as an air blower powered preferably by anelectric motor, is interconnected to the drainage network to provide asuitably defined and sufficient level of vacuum to the interconnecteddrainage pipes.

6. A check-valve or water trap may preferably be connected to theoutfall(s).

7. A layer of fabric may be disposed beneath the sand that covers thesubstrate and the gravel-filled troughs, in some preferred andalternative embodiments.

8. A controller, preferably including a rain gage and/or a moisturesensor for automatic on/off control of the blower/motor when rain waterexceeds a predetermined level, may further be included in preferredembodiments.

9. A means for direct on/off control via existing or new irrigationsatellites or remote control modules may likewise be incorporated inpreferred embodiments.

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention may functionaccording to the following and above described parameters. Specifically,as rain or irrigation water begins to infiltrate the sand layer, asensor in some preferred embodiments signals the controller that therate of rain fall and/or the amount of rain or other water has exceededa predetermined level, and accordingly turns on the blower/motor,thereby creating a vacuum at a suitable selected level within the drainnetwork. The pressure differential across the sand layer created by thevacuum promotes water flow from the layer into the drain lines andeventually exiting as effluent from the outfall(s). A check valve maypreferably be provided to ensure that the vacuum is not broken by airleaking back into the network from the outfall(s).

Because the pressure differential across the sand layer is greater inpreferred embodiments than that caused by natural drainage or siphoningeffects, the rate of water removal is significantly greater than eitherthe natural drainage rate or the rate of rain fall. Accordingly, excesswater is removed before the sand saturates and begins to crumble, creep,or move as a fluidized mass or slurry to cause bunker erosion.

Moreover, and because water must be removed from the sand layer beforewater and sand form a fluidized slurry on steep slopes, spacing andlocation of drain troughs on the contour faces are deemed to beimportant factors that determine effectiveness of sand retention. Whileexact spacing depends upon contour slope and drainage rate from adjacentgrassy areas into the bunker, location of the upper trough is animportant factor in determining overall effectiveness of thevacuum-assisted drainage system of the present invention. The uppertrough, for instance, should in preferred embodiments be located withinapproximately two feet of the upper lip of the bunker, and the secondtrough less than about five feet below that, thereby to assure optimallevels of erosion reduction. Otherwise, a slurry may form that moves themixture of sand and water down the slope resulting in bunker erosion.

Location of the drain trough at the bottom of the bunker also may beimportant, in that fluidized sand tends to puddle at the bottom anderode the steep surface from beneath. Thus, vacuum-assisted drainage ofthe apparatus and methods of the present invention ensures that water isremoved before sand saturation occurs.

The vacuum-assisted bunker drainage apparatus and methods of the presentinvention have, inter alia, provided certain objects and advantages overprior art structures and methods. For example, and not by way oflimitation:

It is a material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainage system ofthe present invention to provide positive displacement of water into thetroughs on steep contours, as the system begins to move water out of thesand before the sand becomes saturated.

It is a further material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainagesystem of the present invention to provide for functioning with orwithout a fabric liner. Without the optional liner the bunker can beraked by machine, which is less costly than manual raking.

It is also a material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainagesystem of the present invention to reduce the need for repairing sandbunkers after heavy rainfall, thereby significantly reducing golf-coursemaintenance costs.

It is an additional material object of the vacuum-assisted bunkerdrainage system of the present invention to materially reduceplay-postponement caused by bunker washout.

It is a yet further material object of the vacuum-assisted bunkerdrainage system of the present invention to enable golf-coursearchitects to create a more diverse and challenging range of bunkerdesigns without substantially increasing maintenance costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of these and other objects and advantages ofthe improved methods and apparatus of the present invention, referenceis made hereinbelow to the detailed description of preferred andalternative embodiments of the invention, which is to be read inassociation with accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partially fragmented schematic front view of agolf course bunker having some of the sand removed to display apreferred embodiment of the present invention installed within thebunker;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 2of FIG. 1, and showing the sand and substrate layers of the bunker, withdrainage pipes installed within trenches and disposed at upper, medialand lower levels of the golf course bunker;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged top view of a preferred embodiment of thedrainage conduit or pipe, showing one form of apertures disposed at atop surface thereof and in longitudinally spaced array; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG.3, and yet further showing schematically water draining into suchdrainage pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf course bunker generally 10 isdepicted and further includes a vacuum-assisted golf course bunkerdrainage system generally 12 functions according to the descriptionsherein to materially reduce sand erosion caused by water impinging uponand soaking into sloped areas or zones 14 of the golf course bunker 10.Such bunker 10 includes preferably a sand layer 16 disposed atop asubstrate layer 18 (as shown in FIG. 2), which may comprise disturbed orundisturbed soil, or other equivalent underlayment. Such bunker 10further structurally includes an upper lip 20 abutting upon turf 22 andhas at least one water fall line 24 (as shown in FIG. 1) whichculminates in a bunker bottom area 26.

The substrate layer 18 of the golf course bunker 10 includes at leastone upper drain trough 30, at least one intermediate trough 32, and atleast one bottom drain trough 34. Each of upper drain trough(s) 30,intermediate trough(s) 32, and bottom drain trough(s) 34 containstherein respective drainage pipes 30 a, 32 a, and 34 a. Additionally,and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respective upper, intermediate and bottomdrainage pipes 30 a, 32 a, and 34 a, contain substantially upwardlydirected apertures 36 for receiving the impinging water disposed withinsaid troughs 30, 32, 34.

The respective upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes 30 a, 32 a,and 34 a are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therein, upper drain pipe 30 a isdisposed within the upper drain trough 30 and adjacent an upper portion40 of the bunker sloped area or zone 42 which has a longitudinaldimension 44 (see FIG. 1) extending generally transverse to the waterfall line 24. Similarly, the intermediate pipe 32 a is disposed withinthe intermediate drain trough 32 and accordingly down-slope from thefirst trough 30, and likewise having a longitudinal dimension 48 (seeFIG. 1) extending transverse to the water fall line 24 of the golfcourse bunker 10. Moreover, the bottom drain pipe 34 a is disposedwithin the bottom drain trough 34 and substantially at the bunker bottomarea 26 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and has a longitudinal dimension 58(as shown in FIG. 1).

Drain pipe connectors 52, 54 are operatively connected to the upper,intermediate and bottom drain pipes 30 a, 32 a, 34 a to drain theimpinging water from each of the respective upper, intermediate andbottom areas generally 51, 53, 55 of the golf course bunker 10.

A vacuum source 59 is operatively connected by means of connector 61 toone of said respective drainage pipes, such as for example bottom drainpipe 34 a, as shown in FIG. 1.

The longitudinal dimension 44 of the upper drain pipe 30 a is shown toextend generally transverse to the water fall line 24 and is disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the water fall line 24 of golf coursebunker 10. Such upper drain pipe 30 a is shown in FIG. 1 to be disposedat a distance of less than approximately two feet from upper lip 20 ofgolf course bunker 10. Additionally, the most proximate intermediatedrain pipe 32 a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is likewise disposedsubstantially perpendicular to water fall line 24 of golf course bunker10 and at a preferred distance of less than approximately five feet fromthe first or upper drain pipe 30 a. Additional medially disposedintermediate drain pipes 32 b (not explicitly shown) may be provided inother preferred embodiments.

The vacuum source 59, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, comprises an airblower which is powered preferably by an electric motor of knownstructure, and may be, for example, Model 7.5 horsepower Elite,available from SubAir Systems, LLC located at Aiken, S.C. FIG. 1 furthershows schematically a rain gauge 60 operatively connected to the vacuumsource 59 comprising for example an air blower 59 a to automaticallystart the air blower 59 a when the rain level exceeds a selected amount.Alternatively, or coordinately, a moisture sensor 62 may be operativelyconnected to the air blower 59 a to automatically start the air blower59 a when the moisture level in selected areas of the sand exceeds aselected amount.

Such bunker 10 may also include a barrier material 64 (partially cutaway in FIG. 1) disposed substantially atop the substrate layer 18 ofgolf course bunker 10. Yet additionally, an aggregate material 68, whichmay be gravel, may be disposed within troughs 30, 32, 34 and beneath,and/or substantially covering the drainage pipes 30 a, 32 a, 34 a. Acheck valve 70 and a water trap 72 may be operatively connected to oneof the drainage pipes 30 a, 32 a, 34 a. and disposed near the drainageoutlet 74.

The vacuum-assisted apparatus 12 hereof functions by creating a pressuredifferential within the sand layer of said sloped zone 14 to reducesubstantially the level of water within said layer of sand 16 at saidsloped zone 14 to a level below that sufficient for fluidization of thesand, thereby to reduce substantially erosion of the sand within slopedzone 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drainage pipe or conduit 30 a, 32 a and/or34 a is depicted and functions to drain said respective upper,intermediate and bottom troughs 30, 32, 34 and include substantiallyupwardly directed apertures 36 for receiving the impinging water withineach of the upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes 30 a, 32 a, 34a (see Arrow A of FIG. 4). The shape and size of the apertures 36 mayvary, however, in some embodiments the diameters may be 2-6″. The pipingused can be round, flat or other shapes, and may be in some embodimentspolypropylene, or other polymeric piping of known construction andcomposition, and may be approximately 2-6″ in diameter.

While the present invention has been explained with reference to certainstructure and methods as disclosed hereinabove, the present invention isnot confined to the details as set forth in such preferred embodiments,and changes, modifications or variations are intended to come within thescope of the present invention and within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. In a golf course bunker drainage system for reducing sand erosioncaused by water impinging upon and soaking into sloped zones of a golfcourse bunker having a layer of sand disposed atop a substrate layer andincluding an upper lip, at least one water fall line and a bunkerbottom, and having formed within the substrate layer of the golf coursebunker an upper drain trough, at least one intermediate trough, and abottom drain trough, the improvement comprising: respective drainagepipes containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receivingthe impinging water disposed within said troughs, said respectivedrainage pipes including an upper drain pipe disposed within the upperdrain trough and adjacent an upper portion of the bunker sloped area andhaving a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fallline; at least one intermediate pipe disposed within the intermediatedrain trough and down-slope from the first trough and having alongitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line ofthe golf course bunker; and a bottom drain pipe disposed within thebottom drain trough and substantially at the bunker bottom; a drain pipeconnector operatively connected to each of said upper, intermediate andbottom drain pipes to drain the impinging water from each of therespective upper, intermediate and bottom areas of the golf coursebunker; and a vacuum source operatively connected one of said respectivedrainage pipes.
 2. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein thelongitudinal dimension of said upper drain pipe extending transverse tothe water fall line is disposed substantially perpendicular to the waterfall line of the golf course bunker.
 3. The improved apparatus of claim1 wherein the upper drain pipe is disposed at a distance of less thanapproximately two feet from the upper lip of the golf course bunker. 4.The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein the most proximateintermediate drain pipe is disposed substantially perpendicular to thewater fall line of the golf course bunker and at a distance of less thanapproximately five feet from said first drain pipe.
 5. The improvedapparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum source comprises an air blower.6. The improved apparatus of claim 5 wherein said air blower furtherincludes an electric motor.
 7. The improved apparatus of claim 5 whereinsaid air blower further includes a hydraulic drive.
 8. The improvedapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a rain gauge operativelyconnected to said air blower to automatically start said air blower whenthe rain level exceeds a selected amount.
 9. The improved apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising a moisture sensor operatively connected tosaid air blower to automatically start said air blower when the moisturelevel exceeds a selected amount.
 10. The improved apparatus of claim 1further comprising a barrier material disposed substantially atop thesubstrate layer of the golf course bunker.
 11. The improved apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising an aggregate material disposed within atleast one of said troughs at least beneath said drainage pipes.
 12. Theimproved apparatus of claim 11 wherein said aggregate materialsubstantially covers said drainage pipes.
 13. The improved apparatus ofclaim 11 said respective drainage pipes contained within said respectivetroughs are substantially covered with said aggregate material.
 14. Theimproved apparatus of claim 11 wherein said aggregate material is gravelsized.
 15. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a checkvalve operatively connected to one of said drainage pipes and disposednear said drainage outlet.
 16. The improved apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a water trap operatively connected to one of said drainagepipes and disposed near said drainage outlet.
 17. The improved apparatusof claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises soil.
 18. An improvedapparatus for reducing water within the wet layer of sand of a slopedzone of a golf course bunker, said apparatus comprising means forcreating a pressure differential within said sand layer of said slopedzone to reduce substantially the amount of water within said layer ofsand at said sloped zone to a level below that sufficient forfluidization of the sand, thereby to reduce substantially erosion of thesand within said sloped zone.
 19. An improved apparatus for reducingsand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking into slopedzones of a golf course bunker having a layer of sand disposed atop asubstrate layer and including an upper lip, a water fall line and abunker bottom, said golf course bunker including within the substratelayer (i) an upper drain trough disposed adjacent an upper portion ofthe bunker sloped area and having a longitudinal dimension extendingtransverse to the water fall line, (ii) at least one intermediate troughdisposed down-slope from the first trough and having a longitudinaldimension extending transverse to the water fall line of the golf coursebunker, and (iii) a bottom drain trough disposed substantially at thebunker bottom; said apparatus comprising: drainage means for drainingsaid respective upper, intermediate and bottom troughs, said drainagemeans containing substantially upwardly directed aperture means forreceiving the impinging water within each of said upper, intermediateand bottom drainage means; and connecting means for operativelyinterconnecting said respective drainage pipes to reduce substantiallythe amount of water contained within the sand of each of the respectiveupper, intermediate and bottom areas of the golf course bunker.
 20. Theimproved apparatus of claim 19 further comprising vacuum meansoperatively connected one of said respective drainage pipes forproviding a vacuum thereto sufficient to reduce substantially the amountof water contained within the sand of each of said upper, intermediateand bottom areas of said golf course bunker.
 21. An improved apparatusfor reducing water within the wet layer of sand of a sloped zone of agolf course bunker, said apparatus comprising means for creating apressure differential within said sand layer of said sloped zone toreduce substantially the amount of water within said layer of sand atsaid sloped zone to a level below that sufficient for fluidization ofthe sand, thereby to reduce substantially erosion of the sand withinsaid sloped zone.
 22. A golf course bunker having improvedcharacteristics resistance to sand erosion caused by water impingingupon and soaking thereinto, said golf course bunker comprising: an upperlip portion including a sloped zone and a bunker bottom portion, and atleast one water fall line area defining a sloped zone therebetween, eachof said upper lip, at least one water fall line area and bunker bottomcomprising a substrate layer and a layer of sand disposed atop saidsubstrate layer, said substrate layer having formed therewithin (i) anupper drain trough disposed adjacent an upper portion of the bunkersloped zone and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse toone of said water fall line areas, (ii) at least one intermediate troughdisposed down-slope from the first trough and having a longitudinaldimension extending transverse to one of said water fall line areas ofthe golf course bunker, and (iii) a bottom drain trough disposedsubstantially at said bunker bottom; and respective drainage pipescontaining substantially upwardly directed apertures for receiving theimpinging water disposed within each of said upper, intermediate andbottom drain troughs; a drain pipe connector operatively connecting saidrespective drainage pipes to drain, the impinging water from each ofsaid respective upper, intermediate and bottom portions of the golfcourse bunker; and a vacuum source operatively connected to one of saiddrainage pipes.
 23. An improved method for reducing sand erosion causedby water impinging upon and soaking into sloped zones of a golf coursebunker having a layer of sand disposed atop a substrate layer andincluding an upper lip, at least one water fall line and a bunkerbottom, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming within thesubstrate layer (i) an upper drain trough disposed adjacent an upperportion of the bunker sloped area and having a longitudinal dimensionextending transverse to the waterfall line, (ii) at least oneintermediate trough disposed down-slope from the first trough and havinga longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line ofthe golf course bunker, and (iii) a bottom drain trough disposedsubstantially at the bunker bottom; (b) disposing respective drainagepipes containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receivingthe impinging water within each of said upper, intermediate and bottomdrain troughs; (c) operatively interconnecting said respective drainagepipes; and applying a vacuum to one of said operatively interconnecteddrainage pipes to drain the impinging water from each of the respectiveupper, intermediate and bottom areas of the golf course bunker at adrainage outlet.
 24. The improved method of claim 23 wherein thelongitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line issubstantially perpendicular to the water fall line of the golf coursebunker.
 25. The improved method of claim 23 wherein the upper trough islocated at a distance of less than approximately two feet from the upperlip of the golf course bunker.
 26. The improved method of claim 23wherein the most proximate intermediate trough is located substantiallyperpendicular to the water fall line of the golf course bunker and at adistance of less than approximately five feet from the first trough. 27.The improved method of claim 23 wherein said vacuum is formed by meansof an air blower.
 28. The improved method of claim 27 wherein said airblower is powered by means of an electric motor.
 29. The improved methodof claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a rain gaugeoperatively connected to said air blower to automatically start said airblower when the rain level exceeds a selected amount.
 30. The improvedmethod of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a moisturesensor operatively connected to said air blower to automatically startsaid air blower when the moisture level exceeds a selected amount. 31.The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of disposinga barrier material substantially atop the substrate layer of the golfcourse bunker.
 32. The improved method of claim 31 wherein the barriermaterial comprises polymeric sheeting.
 33. The improved method of claim23 further comprising the step of disposing an aggregate material withinsaid troughs at least beneath said drainage pipes.
 34. The improvedmethod of claim 33 further comprising the step of substantially coveringsaid drainage pipes with said aggregate material.
 35. The improvedmethod of claim 33 further comprising the step of substantially fillingsaid drainage pipe containing troughs with said aggregate material. 36.The improved method of claim 33 wherein said aggregate material isgravel.
 37. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the stepof providing a check valve disposed near said drainage outlet.
 38. Theimproved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing awater trap disposed near said drainage outlet.
 39. The improved methodof claim 23 wherein said substrate comprises soil.
 40. An improvedmethod for reducing water within the wet layer of sand of a sloped zoneof a golf course bunker, said method comprising the steps of: creating apressure differential within said sand layer of said sloped zone of saidgolf course bunker; and reducing substantially the amount of waterwithin said sand layer at said sloped zone to an amount below thatsufficient for fluidization of the sand, thereby to amelioratesubstantially erosion of the sand within said sloped zone.
 41. Theimproved method of claim 40 wherein said pressure differential iscreated by vacuum means.
 42. The improved method of claim 40 whereinsaid reducing substantially the amount of water within said sand layeris carried out by means of draining the water from the sloped zone. 43.The improved method of claim 40 wherein the golf course bunker has anupper lip and said pressure differential is applied to said sloped zoneat a distance of less than approximately two feet from the upper lip ofthe golf course bunker.